Tool for plugging holes in flexible pipes



Nov. 9 1926.

Filed June 28, 1926 Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES FEEDERIG STAUFFER, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 -ALFRED VERNET, 0F

mater GENEVA, SVTITZERLAND.

TOOL FOR PLUGGI NG HOLES Ill' FLEXIBLE PIPES.

Application filed June 28, 1926, Serial No. 119,170, and in Switzerland May 18, 199.5.

This invention refers to a tool for plugging holes in flexible pipes, such aslengths of hose pipe for use in cases of fire.

The tool comprises:

A needle, the eye of which is adapted to.

- with the central portion of the plugging piece, so that this latter passes a second time into the hole,'whilst the guide retains the parts of the said piece already located in the hole in position. i

The whole tool is so constructed that I holes may be plugged without the risk of piercing the opposite wall of the pipe and so that there is satisfactory plugging from the start. i

The annexed drawing shows by way of example one constructionalembodiment of a tool intended for repairing flexible pipes formed with a hempen sheath, of the type used for fire hose.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section'showin'g certain portions in a different position to that which they occupy in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to 5 refer to the method of employing a device constructed according to the said embodiment.

The tool comprises a metallic needlef a, having near one of its extremities a long eye I), which is adapted for the reception of a wick or length of plugging material. This needle is screwed at the other extremity into a metallic slide 0. a a

The slide a is located in a metallic sheath or holder d, open at one of its ends and closed at the other end by a knob or button 6. This sheath or holder is provided with two opposite longitudinally extending slots f and 9. These slots allow for the passage of a cross bar it rigidly connected to the slide 0 and allowing for the operation of this latter. f and g are lateral notches into which the cross bar can be inserted.

, The device just described is used in the following manner: When it is desired to plug alhole 7' in the length of pipe is, the slide 0 is brought to the bottom of the sheath d and the transverse member 72, is inserted into the notches z'. Then, a wick of obturating textile material, for instance a hempen wick free from glue, is threaded through the eye 6, so that two ends n and 0 are left of suflicient length,

on either side of the eye, as shown at Fig. 3. Then the needle a is introduced into the hole 7' by pressing on the button a. It takes with it the ends n and 0 which come between the edges of the hole and'the needle itself. The depth of insertion is limited because the socket go for theneedle and the base of the sheath d come against the two ends 7?. and 0 and press them against the surface of the hose.

r The cross piece is now rotated through 90 to disengage it from the notches 2', and is drawn up by the fingers pulling thereon from below, whilst the button 6 is pressed down with the palm ofthe hand, and the lower end of the sheath is kept in contact with the ends a and 0. The needle a moves upwards pulling with it the inner portions 1 and s of the ends 17. and 0, which thus come between the outer portions 6 and u of these ends.

In this way, the hole 1' is plugged, as

shown at Fig. 4;. 1

The path of) travel of the slide when withdrawn is limited because it comesinto contact with the button 6.

It is nowonlyneces'sary to cut off the free extremities of the parts as shown at The tool may be employed torplugging' v holes in any kind of flexible tubing,

It is to be noted that in order to plug holes in flexible pipes it has already been proposed to proceed in the following manner. A needle has been introduced into the hole to be plugged, into a rec'es's of hole in which needle has been threaded a wick of obturating material, such for instance as hemp, so that two ends of suliicient length are left on either side of the hole. The needle is then cautiously withdrawn, so as to leave the two end portions of the wick in the hole, which is thus plugged by the two parallel portions which swell a b -1e? the action of moisture, and so plug the hole in amore efficient mannen I The foregoing niethoc'l of proc'ed'ure involves two drawbacks: U

The introduction of the needle has the hole requires a considerable amount or force,

the consequence being that the needle is sometimes inserted too violently and the wall opposite to the hole is perforated. The plugging is moreover not satisfactory from the commencement.

These drawbacks are obviated by employing the described tool as clearly results from the foregoing description.

I claim r p 1. In a tool for plugging holes in fleiible pipes the combination with a needle provided with an eye for receiving a plugging piece of elongated shape and which is adapted to be introduced into the hole to be plugged, the needle drawing in the piece" and forming it into a loop in the hole, of a guide within which the needle may move, means including a manipulatingdevice for locking said needle with respect to the guide in order that the needle can be introduced into the holeby acting on the whole tool, said manipulating device being adapted to displace the needle with respect to the guide and for withdrawing it from the hole with the centralportion of the plugging piece in order that the latter can pass a second time into the hole whilst the guided-stains the parts of said piecealready located in the hole in position. 7

2'. In a tool for plugging holes in flexible pipes thec-ombination with a needle pro vided with an eye for receiving a plugging piece of elongated shapeand which is adapted to be introduced into the hole to be plugged, the needle drawing in the piece and forming it into a loop in the hole, of a guide within which the needle may move, means including a manipulating device tor locking said. needle with respect to the guide in order that the needle can be introduced into the hole by acting on the whole tool of an element sliding in the guide and in which said needle is removably mountech said manipulating device being adapted to dis place the needle with respect to the guide and for withdrawing it from the hole with the central portion of the plugging piece in order that the latter can pass a second time into the hole whilst the guide retains parts of said piece already located in the hole in position. V v

3. In a tool for plugging holes in flexible pipes the combinationwith a needle provided withan eye for receiving a plugging piece of elongated shape and which is adapted to be introduced into'the hole to be plugged, the needle drawing in the piece and forining it into a loop in the hole, or" aguide withinwhich the needle may niove and which is constituted by a sheath prcvided with two longitudinally extending slots, a manipulating device for displacing the needle with respect to" the guide and" for withdrawing it from the hole with the cen tral portion of the plugging piece and compris'in'g a transverse bar going through the slots of the sheath in order that said central portion can pass a second time into the hole whilst the guide retains the parts of said piece already located in the hole in position. v 4; Ina tool for plugging holes inflexible pipes the)combination with a needle pro vided with an eye for receiving a plugging piece of elongated shape and which is adapted to beintrodnced into'the hole to be pluggechthe needle drawing in the piece and forming it into a loop in the hole; of a guide within which the needle may move and which is constituted by a sheath provided with two longitudinally extending slots presenting notches a manipulating de vice for displacing the needle with respect to the giiide and iorwit'hdrawing it from the hole with the central portion of the plugging piece and comprising a transverse going through the slots of the sheath and which may belocat'ed within the notches of the sheath by turning the needle round its axis for locking said needle in position with respect to the guide in order that said central portion can pass a second time into the hole whilst the guide retains the parts of said piece already located in the hole in positiori: v g

5; In a tool for plugging holes in flexible pipes the combination with a needle-pro vided with an eye for receiving-a plugging piece of elongated shape and which is adapted to be introduced into the hole to be plugged, the needle drawing in the piece and forming it into a loop in the hole, of a guide within which the needle may move and which is constituted by a sheath, means including a manipulating device for looking said needle with respect to the guide in order that the needle can be introduced into the hole by acting on the Whole tool, an element sliding in the guide and in which the needle is mounted, a bottom of the sheath serving as abutment for the sliding element, said manipulating device being adapted to displace the needle with respect to the guide and for withdrawing it from the hole with the central portion of the plugging piece in order that the latter can pass a second time into the hole whilst the guide retains the parts of said piece already located in the hole in position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERIC STAUFFER. 

